My Grandma

Ten Things I Miss About My Grandma
1) Her homemade rolls. She used to make me my own bag separate from the rest. I would literally hide them under my bed or in my dresser drawer so noone would eat them. I was ration out one at a time so they would last a long time. NOBODY can make rolls as wonderful as Grandma made!
2) How she said my name. She didn't call me Rebecca or Becca like most people do. She called me Reebecca....with the emphasis on the Ree. I loved it - from her. I actually prefer Becca from everyone else.
3) My grandma collected everything - rubberbands, straws, ketchup packets, bags that the newspaper comes in....everything. If you ever needed it, it was likely that Grandma had it.
4) Grandma had a way of making me feel perfect even when I had a permed mullet in the 5th grade. Only a Grandma can love during the awkward ages.
5) Grandma always had Coke in the glass bottle. There was a time when the Coke delivery man actually made a weekly stop at her house. She loved her Coke...I never saw her drink water and she lived to be 86.
6) Anytime we left her house, she would come to the door and wave at us until we were out of site. I saw Grandma about a week before she died. Even though she was so weak, she still came to the door and peaked out the window until I drove away. I burned that image in my brain because I feared it could be the last time I saw her and it was. I will never ever forget it.
7) When we were little and we would stay with her when my parents were out of town, she would give Amy and me a little radio to put under our pillows to listen to until we fell asleep. She would come check on us 100 times to make sure we were OK and didn't need anything.
8) I miss the sound of the back door. It was attached to a spring and it squeaked when it opened and slammed shut. She hated to hear it slam and I tried my best to remember to shut it quietly. We lived in Grandma's house after she died for about 4 months. Every time I went out that door, I intentionally let it slam. It would bring a smile to my face.
9) Grandma's mashed potatoes. I have tried to make them that good, but I fail. I think she used cream in them. It was always a pinch of this and a little of that...she would let me be the one who got to test them to be sure they were right. They were always PERFECT.
10) Her hugs and kisses. She was not a really affectionate person, but you could always steal a hug and kiss from her before you left after a visit. What I wouldn't do to have my arms around her again and to feel her skin. She was a picture of love to me and I miss her.

I think about Grandma all the time. I bet not a week goes by that I don't think about her at least once. Being a Hospice nurse puts me in situations that remind me of her so often...whether it be the way someone pronounces something, the way one of my patients walk, or the familiar smell of a gas stove in someone's home - they all point me to the wonderful memories I have of Grandma. I consider myself blessed to have been loved by such an amazing person!

Life is good. Be reminded to live each day without regret...you never know if you will have tomorrow. I am blessed by each of you who hold such a special place in my heart. Thank you for being my friend...

Until next time,
Becca